The Power of the Stars (CANCELLED, RECORDING)
Alessandro Stradella’s rarely performed serenata
Stradella–Corelli
Myriam Arbouz, soprano
Kajsa Dahlbäck, soprano
Katariina Heikkilä, alto
Mats Lillhannus, tenor
George Parris, bass
Finnish Baroque Orchestra
The concert was recorded and is available on FiBO's YouTube channel on January 30 at 12 pm - 12 am.
Programme (in Finnish and Swedish)
Alessandro Stradella (1639-1682) is known not only for his rich music but also for his adventurous life. Stradella composed the serenata “La forza delle stelle" (The Power of the Stars) in the 1670s when he was a part of Queen Christina’s (1626-1689) Academy of Arcadia in Rome. Christina, who abdicated her Swedish throne and moved to the Eternal City, influenced the work’s compositional process, instrumentation and philosophical background. She even wrote parts of the libretto. The theme of love was important to her on both academic and personal levels, as her dual role as woman and ruler did not conform to the preconceived notions of that era. Throughout her life, Christina sought out her own unique place in the labyrinths of partnership and love. The libretto of “La forza delle stelle" reflects on the diverse nature of love and its impact on people and their behaviour. From the point of view of music history, it is also interesting to note that “La forza delle stelle" is one of the first examples of a concerto grosso.
The Finnish Baroque Orchestra will perform this rarely heard work in two Houses of Nobility: in Helsinki as well as in Christina’s former hometown, Stockholm. The Serenata’s leading roles will be sung by Myriam Arbouz, a French soprano who is collaborating with FiBO for the third time, and the Finnish soprano Kajsa Dahlbäck. The programme is filled out by the instrumental music of a second composer supported by Christina, the Roman Arcangelo Corelli.
The concert is organized in collaboration with Encanto Music / Helsinki Early Music Festival.
Duration: 1 h 45 min (incl. intermission)
Petteri Pitko introduces the concert at the House of Nobility on 30 January from 5–5.30 pm.